New England Patriots’ Mock Draft: Surprising picks made
In our most recent mock draft for the New England Patriots, the team makes a few surprising picks to shake up the roster for 2023. We could do mock drafts all day, every day until the 2023 NFL Draft and could still not get close to who the Patriots might pick in 2023.
In this mock draft, we’ll go with some surprising picks to shake things up on both sides of the ball. The Pats do have some obvious needs to take care of, but could they go in a different direction if the board falls a certain way?
New England Patriots’ Mock Draft: Surprising picks made
14th overall: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Bijan Robinson is available at 14th overall, and Bill Belichick jumps on the opportunity to take him. Many have viewed him as the best overall player in the draft, and there does not appear to be a big weakness in his name.
I’d guess that this move likely means Rhamondre Stevenson gets moved at some point, as they did sign James Robinson to a two year deal and he more appropriately fits a backup running back role.
46th overall pick: Trade to TAM for pick 50 and 2024 third
50th overall pick and 135th overall pick: Trade to TEN for QB R. Tannehill and pick 72
Wow. Ok, so we have a bit of movement here. PFN proposed a couple of trades to me that I took advantage of. The first one was to move down four picks to acquire a 2024 third rounder.
Then, with that 50th overall pick and the 135th overall pick, the Tennessee Titans offer Ryan Tannehill and pick 72.
I took that deal and ran with it. Ryan Tannehill comes over and is the new QB1 in New England, throwing another huge wrench into the Patriots and their 2023 offensive plans. He’s entering his age-35 season and did make a deep playoff run with the Titans back in 2019. He’s not an elite QB, but the Pats likely think he gives them a better chance to win than Mac Jones does.
72nd overall pick: Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama
The second player selection they make is Eli Ricks out of Alabama. Standing at 6’2″, Ricks is by far the tallest and biggest CB on the Pats’ roster, which is exactly the kind of player they need at the position.
76th overall: Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
The Pats finally add to the wide receiver position, selecting Nebraska’s Trey Palmer. He comes into a WR room with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, and Tyquan Thornton.
107th overall: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
117th overall: Wayna Morris, OT, Oklahoma
184th overall: Moro Ojomo, DT, Texas
187th overall: Nick Broeker, OG, Ole Miss
192nd overall: Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern
245th overall: Marshon Ford, TE, Louisville
2024 TB 3rd
So, how does this draft haul look for the New England Patriots? There’s certainly a ton of movement on the draft board. It nets them Ryan Tannehill and a 2024 third round pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They also double dipped at wide receiver, cornerback, and along the offensive line, so even though the top of the draft looks a bit odd, they hit on their most important needs.